FBD League wins for Galway, Mayo and Sligo IT

Joe Kernan's reign as Galway boss got off to a winning start on the opening day of the 2010 FBD League competition, while their were also victories for Mayo and Sligo IT.

Nicky Joyce was Galway's top-scorer with seven points as Galway gained a 0-11 to 0-4 win over Sligo at Tuam Stadium this afternoon.

The hosts hit the ground running and three points from Joyce and a John Paul O'Connell score pushed them 0-4 to 0-2 clear by the 26th minute.

But Sligo had the final say of the opening half with a Mark Breheny free cutting the gap to the minimum at the break.

Galway continue to build momentum on the restart, as Sligo were held to just two second half points - both from the boot of Breheny.

Joyce continued to cause the Sligo defence havoc, adding four second half points with Fiachra Breathnach, Eoin Concannon and Declan Meehan also on target.

Elsewhere in Group A of the Connacht competition, GMIT overturned a six-point deficit to take a hard-earned draw with Leitrim at Cloone on a 0-14 to 1-11 scoreline.

In Group B, despite playing against a strong wind in the second half, Mayo held out for a 0-11 to 0-9 win over NUIG at Garrymore.

An injury-time point from Mark Ronaldson gave Mayo at 0-6 to 0-5 half-time lead, and John O'Mahony's charges did just enough to hold onto that advantage in the second half.

Meanwhile, Sligo IT claimed the scalp of Roscommon with a 1-7 to 1-6 success at Ballinode. Alan Freeman landed the winning point.

In a close encounter, the Sligo students led 1-3 to 1-2 at the interval, with Stephen Coen their goalscorer.